Prosecutor: School resource officer had sex with Bothell teen

Published 12:53 pm, Tuesday, February 3, 2015

UPDATE: A King County jury acquitted Detective Dione Thompson on all charges Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. Click through for more.

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A Bothell police officer accused having sex with a girl she met while serving as a school resource officer has been charged with sex crimes.

Detective Dione Thompson is alleged to have first had sex with the girl when she was a 17-year-old student at Bothell High School. Thompson, now 45, has been charged with sexual misconduct with a minor, a charge meant to punish authority figures who have sexual contact with older children.

According to charging papers, Thompson had sexual contact with the girl in her patrol car, at the Bothell library and outside an Ivar’s restaurant during their months-long liaison. Thompson persuaded the student to move in with her for a time.

Reached for comment Tuesday, attorney David Allen defended his client.

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"She is innocent and will strongly contest these false allegations," Allen said by email.

Thompson, who joined the Bothell Police Department in 1998, is currently on paid administrative leave, Sgt. Cedric Collins said Tuesday. An internal investigation is ongoing.

Writing the court, a King County Sheriff’s Office detective said Thompson’s ex-partner reported the claims in August after the former student contacted her. Police then contacted the former student, who detailed the allegations.

Thompson first chatted with the former student by Facebook, then began seeing her outside of school in the summer of 2010, the detective said in charging papers. Thompson ultimately persuaded the student -- who was facing "a lot of turmoil" personally -- to move into the Shoreline home Thompson shared with her partner. The former student apparently lived there for some time.

Suspicions that Thompson was sexually involved with the student surfaced shortly after they got together, according to charging papers. The student denied them at the time. Thompson was transferred out of Bothell High after being promoted to detective.

The former student told investigators Thompson broke off the relationship in February 2011. Recounting an interview, the detective said the student only recently realized the harm Thompson caused by misusing the power and trust given her.

Investigators contacted Thompson in September aiming to discuss the allegations. According to charging documents, Thompson denied having sex with the former student.

Thompson was charged Thursday with two counts of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. She likely faces six to 12 months in jail if convicted as charged, and has not been jailed.